Manipur Violence: Over 100 families from violence-hit Areas Shifted to Assam

New Delhi: Over 100 families from volatile Manipur have shifted to Assam’s Cachar district. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma directed the Cachar administration to take care of these families.

Manipur government on Thursday issued “shoot at sight” orders in “extreme cases” after violence in the state spilled over to Imphal. Rapid Action Force (RAF) was flown in and 55 army columns were deployed to contain the spiraling violence.

Internet services have been suspended across the state till Monday. Train operations have been stopped and curfew imposed in non-tribal dominated Imphal West, Kakching, Thoubal, Jiribam, and Bishnupur districts and tribal-dominated Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, and Tengnoupal districts.

Centre is rushing additional troops to the state. The Indian Air Force (IAF) will airlift forces from Guwahati and Tezpur in Assam. Former CRPF chief Kuldeep Singh has been appointed as the security advisor for Manipur. Senior IPS officer Ashutosh Sinha was made the overall commander overseeing the peace restoration operations in Manipur.

Over 9,000 people from various districts of Manipur have been evacuated and given shelter in special camps.

The violence began on Wednesday during protests by various tribal groups of Manipur over a court order on Scheduled Tribe status.

The All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) called a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ in the Torbung area of Churachandpur district to protest against the non-tribal Meitei community’s demand for a Scheduled tribe status.